Proper British Fish Cakes

Chef John's proper British fish cakes with mashed potato are fried golden brown and served alongside a homemade tartar sauce that perfectly complements the appetizer.

• Preparation Time: 15 mins
• Cooking Time: 20 mins
• Total Time: 35 mins
• Calories: 623 Calories

Ingredients

• 1 bay leaf
• salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
• 1 pinch cayenne pepper
• 2 teaspoons prepared horseradish
• 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
• 1 large egg, beaten
• 1 teaspoon finely grated lemon zest
• 1 cup panko bread crumbs, or as needed
• 1 tablespoon finely chopped shallot
• 2 tablespoons capers, drained and chopped
• 1 tablespoon finely chopped Italian parsley
• 1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh tarragon
• 1 tablespoon sliced fresh chives
• 1 pound cod, cut into 1-inch pieces
• 12 ounces russet potato, peeled and quartered
• 0.5 cup milk
• 0.5 cup mayonnaise
• 0.25 cup vegetable oil, or as needed
• 0.33 cup all-purpose flour

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Mix mayonnaise, capers, shallot, parsley, tarragon, horseradish, mustard, and cayenne together in a bowl for tartar sauce and refrigerate until needed.

Step 2

Add milk and bay leaf to a saucepan and place the pieces of fish over the top. Season with salt. Bring to a simmer over medium heat, and cook for about 1 minute, stirring occasionally. As soon as the fish firms up, but before it starts to flake apart, turn off the heat and cover. Let sit for 5 minutes before draining. Let cool, about 10 minutes. Refrigerate until needed.

Step 3

Meanwhile, bring a pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add russet potato and boil until tender but not falling apart.

Step 4

Drain and mash potato in a bowl. Season with salt, black pepper, and cayenne. Add parsley, chives, and lemon zest; add 1 tablespoon tartar sauce mixture. Mix until combined. Flake chilled fish over the top. Mix until combined.

Step 5

Scoop out ¼ of the mixture and form into a patty. Repeat with remaining mixture.

Step 6

Dust cakes with flour on both sides. Brush both sides of cakes with beaten egg. Coat in bread crumbs.

Step 7

Heat oil in a skillet over medium heat. Pan-fry patties in the hot oil until golden brown and heated through, 3 to 4 minutes per side. Drain on paper towels before serving with tartar sauce.